STATEMENT: Tonight’s Results will Remake Chicago, City Hall for Generations

CHICAGO- Following is the statement of Emma Tai, Executive Director of United Working Families (UWF), on tonight’s UWF victories:

“Today, voters came out in force for the United Working Families slate of progressive activists running to win a Chicago for the many, and not just the wealthiest few. With 80% of precincts reporting, seven out of eight early-endorsed UWF candidates won or advanced to a runoff tonight.

“From Maria Hadden, the queer Black activist who defeated Rahm Emanuel lackey Joe Moore in Rogers Park, to Jeanette B. Taylor, the Dyett hunger striker who just ended a corrupt party boss's career, tonight’s results are a rejection of Chicago politics as usual.

“These victories were years in the making, and will remake Chicago for years to come. They were seeded by the risks we took in 2015, when UWF forced the most powerful mayor in the country into a runoff and challenged entrenched incumbents across the city. And they were powered by the independent political organizations that grew out of those efforts—organizations like 33rd Ward Working Families, the UWF affiliate that forced the Mell family dynasty into a runoff tonight.

“The most powerful Democratic fundraiser in the country, Rahm Emanuel, will not be mayor again. The Cook County gang database has been shut down. Candidates are rejecting campaign contributions from luxury real-estate developers and calling for free child care and college for all. 2020 Presidential hopefuls, take note: we are remaking the political landscape of our city and country. We are fighting for a city and a country for the many—not the wealthiest few. And we are winning.”

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United Working Families is an independent political organization by and for the 99%. UWF affiliate members include: Action Now, Chicago Teachers Union, Cook County College Teachers Union, Grassroots Illinois Action, SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana, Warehouse Workers Organizing Committee, People United for Action, Workers United CMRJB, 22nd Ward IPO, 25th Ward IPO, and 33rd Ward Working Families.

As of this writing, UWF candidates who were positioned to win and/or make the runoff are as follows.